You are an insurance intermediary if you work either as an insurance broker or insurance agent:
- An insurance broker is someone who brokers or concludes insurance policies for the policyholder on a professional basis without having been commissioned by an insurance company or an insurance agent.
- An insurance agent is a person who brokers or concludes insurance policies on a professional basis on behalf of an insurance company or insurance agent.
In addition to obtaining permission, you must apply for entry in the Register of Insurance Agents and obtain a registration number. You can apply for entry in the register together with the permit. Before starting your activity, you must register your business.
The permit can be issued to a natural person and a legal entity. It is valid for an unlimited period.
Partnerships such as the Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (GbR) or the Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG) cannot obtain the permit. Here, each managing partner requires the permit.
As a tied insurance agent, you work exclusively for one or, if the insurance products are not in competition, for several insurance companies. Here you have the possibility to be registered directly by your insurance company in the intermediary register. In this case you do not need a permit.
If you broker insurance policies in addition to goods or services, i.e. as a product accessory, you can be exempted from the obligation to obtain a permit by applying to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for exemption. In this case, however, you are also subject to the registration requirement.
The permit may be restricted in terms of content and may be subject to conditions if, in the opinion of the authority, this is necessary for the protection of the general public or the clients.
If you are a citizen of the EU/EEA, have a permit or a trade as an insurance intermediary in another country and only wish to work temporarily in Germany, you do not need a permit in Germany. However, you must notify the authorities in your home country of your intended activity.
If you select a location under "Localization" the contact details of the responsible authority and, if applicable, locally valid information will be displayed.